The fourth U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrives at the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in this April 24, 2013 photo released on May 8, 2013. Picture taken April 24, 2013. Daniel Hughes/U.S. Air Force/Handout via Reuters.

General: Air Force Aircraft Are So Old, Many Would Qualify For Antique License Plates

The average Air Force aircraft is approximately 27 years old, noted Wilson, meaning the service’s “advantage over potential adversaries is shrinking.”

He explained that high demands and low funding have significantly impacted the Air Force’s capabilities.

“Sustained global commitments and funding reductions have eroded our Air Force to the point where we have become one of the smallest, oldest-equipped, and least ready forces across the full-spectrum of operations, in our service history,” said Wilson in his statement.

The Air Force, along with the other military branches, are suffering from a severe readiness problem. While politicians and military officials are searching for a solution, they are limited by spending caps enforced by former President Barack Obama’s Budget Control Act of 2011. The law severely limits defense spending until 2021, while exempting money for overseas operations.

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